How to Garden in Rocky Soil

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No matter how beautiful, no garden is perfect and all gardeners have to combat at least one flaw in their personal Eden. Rocky soil is a garden complaint that often requires long-term attention. Rocks are problematic not just because they make working the soil challenging but also because rocky soil tends to have fewer nutrients than other soils and holds water poorly. Pebbly, gritty soil can be amended and fairly large rocks removed from the ground, but new rocks will appear in the garden as the earth beneath them shifts and changes over time. There are things you can do to improve your success rate when gardening in rocky soil, but be prepared to change your plans if you encounter immovable slabs of bedrock or other rocky surprises when creating your garden masterpiece.

1

Spread a layer of organic matter 4 to 5 inches thick on top of the intended planting area. Well-rotted manure and compost are the preferred organic amendments, but rice or cocoa hulls can also be used. Work the amendments into the soil, tilling them to a depth of 9 inches. Remove any large rocks that you encounter while tilling.

2

Choose plants that tolerate rocky soils well, such as sheep’s burr (Acaena), which does well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9 or shooting star (Dodecatheon), which grows in zones 4 through 8. Your local nursery can help you choose native plants that have adapted to the climate and soil conditions specific to your area.

3

Space plants further apart than recommended by the nursery. Giving plants more room reduces the competition for the limited nutrients found in rocky soils.

4

Build raised planting beds and fill them with nutrient-rich topsoil. Creating raised beds can be expensive but makes combating poor soil conditions much easier and may be more economical in the long term. When compared to direct planting in rock soils, raised beds produce healthier plants, house more plants, produce more fruits and vegetables, extend the growing season by warming the soil sooner and help protect plants from rodent damage.

Things You Will Need

Compost or well-rotted manure

Shovel

Tiller

Raised planting beds (optional)

Topsoil (optional)

Tip

Give established plants and trees a boost by spreading a layer of organic material 2 to 3 inches deep around the plants and let nature do the rest. Worms, rainwater and microorganisms will do the rest of the work for you.

About the Author

Writing professionally since 2008, Michelle Miley specializes in home and garden topics but frequently pens career, style and marketing pieces. Her essays have been used on college entrance exams and she has more than 4,000 publishing credits. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in accounting, having graduated summa cum laude.